| How many godchildren do you have? Two … | | | | Look down the list of The Queen’s |
| maybe three? Some of us may even be able to | | | | godchildren and it is easy to see ties and |
| boast as many as half a dozen or so. Well spare | | | | connections being strengthened and alliances |
| a thought for The Queen. At the last count, | | | | forged. One of The Queen’s first godsons |
| Queen Elizabeth II had amassed a grand total of | | | | was Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, her |
| 30 godchildren. | | | | last goddaughter was Princess Theodora of |
| For us mere mortals, choosing an appropriate | | | | Greece. There are Barons, Dukes and Viscounts |
| Christening gift, remembering a birthday or finding | | | | scattered about all over the place. And when you |
| another Christmas present, on top of providing | | | | do find someone on the list who sounds just like |
| the occasional piece of pithy moral and spiritual | | | | the rest of us – take George Herbert for |
| advice, can be taxing at the best of times. So | | | | example – he turns out to be an earl … the |
| how does The Queen manage with thirty little | | | | 8th Earl of Carnarvon to be exact. Yes, becoming |
| souls to guide? | | | | a godparent really is a case of “keeping it in |
| Well, firstly we can assume that she doesn’t | | | | the family.” |
| spend too much time pottering around the shops | | | | However, as The Queen so correctly observed: |
| trying to find that special Christening gift. Similarly, | | | | “Like all the best families, we have our share |
| an equerry will probably remind her when the | | | | of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward |
| next birthday is due and a Lady-in-Waiting or a | | | | youngsters and of family disagreements.” So, |
| Woman of the Bedchamber will be on hand to | | | | if we look a bit further down the list of godsons, |
| recommend the most popular Christmas presents | | | | we find Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, |
| for the little darlings. I think we are safe in | | | | brother of Diana, Princess of Wales. The Queen |
| assuming that the godchildren don’t come | | | | was present at his Christening on 14 July 1964 in |
| high on that list of forgotten jobs that keeps the | | | | the Henry VII Chapel at Westminster Abbey. It's |
| rest of us awake at 3am in the morning. | | | | worth considering, that the next time they faced |
| The Queen has also spread her responsibilities | | | | each other in Westminster Abbey was at |
| over a few decades. To tell the truth, most of | | | | Diana’s funeral when Earl Spencer read his |
| the little darlings aren’t really that | | | | moving and rather controversial eulogy in front of |
| “little” at all. The oldest godson is now well | | | | a global TV audience of around 2.5 billion viewers. |
| into his sixties, whilst the youngest goddaughter is | | | | As a final note, you should be aware that The |
| already in her twenties. So, with a bit of judicious | | | | Queen is not alone in taking on numerous |
| planning, The Queen has managed to dilute her | | | | godchildren. Prince Charles already has thirty-three |
| godparent’s duties over time. | | | | godchildren, while Prince William started assuming |
| Part of a godparent’s purpose is binding | | | | godparental responsibility way back in 1999. His |
| ever-tighter links between friends and family. | | | | first chosen godson followed family tradition; he |
| Never has this been more true than in the case | | | | was Prince Konstantine Alexios of Greece. |
| of the old family firm that is “Royalty.” | | | | |